The sun sets slow, its warm glow retreating from the icy horizon as darkness fills in the gaps left behind by the fading of the light. We have little time remaining before our return, and I’ve rested as well as I can. All that’s left is waiting the last few hours before we finally make our anticipated return.

“Oh, Kyra!” Cries a familiar flower girl, pulling along a young man by her side. His species is similar enough to hers and I can already guess at the signs of early romance at just a glance.

“Hi, how have you been?” I ask, relaxing back against the hard wall at my back. The others are still sleeping inside the barracks, not quite as early to wake as I am.

“Busy, we’ve been running all over and getting into fights. All practice fights, nothing scary. It’s exciting!” She cries, before slumping down onto the seat beside me. “It’s also exhausting.”

I wave to youth following her.

“Oh, sorry. Introductions. That’s Gerry. He’s smart and strong, and a really cool guy.” She says, her words coming out in bursts as fast as she can think them. “He’s part of my team.”

“Nice to meet you.” I say with a little nod.

He nods back a little more respectfully.

“Have you been fighting hard?” Alo asks.

“Yep. Learning a few neat tricks along the way.” I say, playing around with the improved mana shields that I’ve developed. A small concentrated vortex of mana forms on my arm, a layer beneath it I have my reactive defences working to defend against whatever makes it through.

She watches the spell closely, her ability to sense mana still much better than my own. I mean, whose isn’t.

“Do you mind if I steal it?” She asks, and I can’t contain a small chuckle as I stop myself from reaching out to hand over the Skill. She doesn’t quite mean it the same way as I do, she just wants to try and copy it with her own abilities.

“Sure, go ahead.” I say with a shrug, my mind turning back towards the violence in my near future. “Though… how do you like the fighting?”

“What do you mean?” She asks, tilting her head. “It’s something we have to do for class, I don’t hate it as much as before, but still.”

She’s not a good recruit then. In theory, throwing her into the violence of the dungeon could potentially change her to the point that she’d work with me.

I’m not going to do that. Apart from the ethics of it, there’s simply too much at risk with so little to gain.

I sigh.

“What is it?” Alo asks.

“Nothing you’d be interested in, I just have some business to get up to when I get back to the academy.” I say, thinking of the gremlins that I’m going to slaughter.

Alo flinches back and I quickly fix my expression, it takes some effort to relax my tense facial muscles but I think I at least take the edge off of it. She smiles a little awkwardly, backing away a little. She doesn’t leave however.

“If it’s that bad you should ask for help.” She says.

I sigh. Which I admit, I’ve been doing a lot this conversation. I heard a saying once that suggests that each sigh lets a little bit of your happiness escape, for me it seems to help alleviate the building frustration and rage.

“I’m not hiding it very well, am I?” I ask, looking up at the sky. “It’s not something I can easily burden others with. Not unless they’re prepared to give up everything to walk alongside me.”

“Ah… is… is it love troubles?” Gerry asks uncertainly, nodding eagerly to himself as if he’s figured it all out.

“Is it love troubles…?” I burst out laughing, unable to contain the amusement, the others awkwardly chuckle along. “No, it’s not love problems. I mean I’d like a little more time to settle down and get to know all my lovers a bit better, but no, there’s no big problems there yet.”

“Then what is it?” Alo asks.

“As I said before. I don’t think you’d be interested.” I reply. “Even telling you about it… it’d be asking too much of you. Especially when I already know you’re not interested. Thank you for the offer, though.”

“It’s not just me.” Alo quickly adds, perking up from her seat. “Your group always runs off so quickly that we don’t get to talk about it, but all of us have gathered together. We help each other out, especially with all the difficult parts of living life as… as what we are.”

“Soldiers?” I ask, leaning back and thinking the offer over. “Maybe then. Older students are involved?”

“Yeah, they’re the ones who reached out to us, helped us work together.”

“I guess they’d be stronger then?” I ask, slowly nodding. “Maybe… they help you to stick to the rules too? Meaning there are those who aren’t doing so well at that.”

“I guess?” Alo says. “Are you having troubles?”

“I suppose I am.” I say. “How soon can we meet them all?”

I doubt the new recruits will be ready to help this next week, but maybe a few older students, strong and rebellious, could join my war effort if I can meet them in the next few days.

“We’ll be gathering the night after we return.” Alo says.

“Good. If I can’t make it, I’ll send a message.” I say, trying to recall why this seems so familiar. I vaguely recall hearing details of something like this before, around the time I was investigating the whole ‘fallen’ secret society nonsense.

Alo and Gerry stay and chat for a little while more, but it’s honestly difficult to keep the conversation flowing when all I can think about is the battle ahead.

“Alo, have you noticed anyone in our class struggling with the rules?” I ask, thinking for the future ahead. “I’d like to help if that’s the case.”

“Hmm, there are a few.” She says, giving me their names which I promptly note down. “I think life in third grade civilisations is a bit difficult for them. They’re more eager than the rest of us to get into fights. Well, apart from your group, I mean.”

“Good, I think we might get along then.” I say with another long sigh. Alo is here trying to get along with everyone and support her classmates, and I’m here trying to find people to recruit into my personal wars.

Maybe I should try army recruitment tactics? See the world, meet new people, slaughter and subjugate to grow my empire! I’m not sure it quite works as well.

“If you change your mind, come tell me. We’d all be happy to help you. We’re all in this together.” Alo says waving goodbye as she leaves.

Her words are nice to hear, but it’s just an empty platitude, even if she means it. We’re not in this together. I’m still out here playing the proper student while my people are dying back home.

Still.

The reason I’m here is all too clear to me. The enemy is using some nasty poisons, and I’m not likely to find any free alchemists down in the dungeon.

Thresh isn’t someone I’d be able to recruit without coming up to the academy, and I can’t fight this war on my own. My job right now is to gather people like her. It’s the best thing I can do for my little empire.

At least, in the mid-term. In the short-term I need to go kill the bastard in charge of the assault on our home.

I cut off the pointless line of thought, settling the beastly rage coiling up inside me. I still need to properly consider what I’m doing in the mid-term.

I need Skilled craftspeople, warriors, and everything else I can steal from this academy. I can’t afford to get distracted from this purpose, with student troubles, or war efforts. I need to be stealing the books from the shelves and the Skills from everyone I pass.

We still need so many more specialists, healers, space mages, enchanters, alchemists, and everything else. Shit, I’m sure farmers could tend to fields in the dungeon, too. I need everything.

I’m trying to build an empire, not merely an army, though it’s easy to forget when war is forever today’s problem.

“Kyra?” Vii says, hopping over to me, the ground here is thankfully well paved. The soft rain formed from melting snowfall making the sides of the road muddy on this side of the spring/winter line.

“You sleep well?” I ask, patting the bench at my side. She eagerly jumps at the offer and leans against me, smiling happily.

“I did. I had a dream, and you were in it. We were flying around the galaxy in a large battleship flying among the stars, raiding pirates and stealing all their stuff. Eshya jumped off the ship and fought a beast the size of a planet.”

“Sounds like fun.” I say, leaning back and imagining the scene playing out like it’s from a kids cartoon or an anime. For a moment it even distracts me from the fights to come.

For a moment.

Vii smiles at me, holding my hand in both of hers as she leans against my side, describing her dream in more and more detail. I think she gets it.

The others join us soon enough, and we continue to relax while discussing this or that, waiting for the end of the day. The seconds stretch out as I wait for another message to arrive. Maybe this time the name will be more familiar.

No news is good news, or so they say, and I dread waiting for the messages that come, listing more wounded. Each new message leads me to waiting for the next. It’s never ending.

“Gather around.” Freid cries and us students quickly come about. Thresh joins us, a tense but confident smile on her face.

“It’s time to recognise those whose Skills and abilities shone brightest these past few days.” Freid says, “You all performed remarkably well, and it’s refreshing to see so many new Skills put to use.”

His speech continues for a few more lines, which my mind instinctively blurs out for my own wellbeing.

“Alo, Gerry, and Giule, however had the strongest showing this past week. Using the combination of your strengths, you were able to handle most of the battles you engaged in without causing injury to your enemy.

“This is the ideal that we work towards, but it is only the truly strong that can achieve it. Well done.”

The others pat them on the back and offer them a cheerful response to the victory. A change has occurred in this group when we weren’t looking, they’re no longer the same nervous wrecks I know them as.

“Kyra, Eshya, and Vii, your strategy kept you out of reach for most of the week. Leaving the region of conflict in order to complete your objective safely was a good move. You’re fighting Skills are still lacking, however. While you never risked your attacks being lethal, you were much more violent than you needed to be.”

He continues to give feedback for each group but considering his advice so far has proven less than useful, my attention drifts away. Alo and her team are all rather overeager in their celebrations of ‘winning’ even if there’s nothing important that really comes with it. A potential of favourable treatment when we graduate, but that’s all.

The others seem frustrated as they listen closely to Freid, paying attention to each of his criticisms so they can perform better next time. It’s all so alien. So strange.

I’m here thinking about the war that I’m about to kick into gear, while they’re just bothered that the teacher doesn’t pat them on them head and give them a sparkling fricking sticker.

The alchemy students are sitting among us with building anxiety as they wait for their turn, no different from the ‘soldiers’ by our side.

“I can’t wait to get back.” I whisper under my breath, shifting closer to Vii, Eshya, and Alder. We’re not like them anymore and being here among the passionate students, I feel almost like I’m an intruder.

“Soon.” Eshya says, an eager smile touching her lips as she caresses the hilt of her sword. It’s been improved since she first put it together, a leather wrap forming the hilt, and a basic scabbard made from the same.

“Okay, okay. It’s time for the reviews of the alchemy students.” The alchemy teacher says, his cat-like ears fluttering about excitedly as he looks over his students, a playful smile rising on his lips. “First of all, you all performed brilliantly, so don’t feel bad if you don’t rank as the top student.”

He goes on for a while longer, Thresh sitting with us grows tense, but the confident smile on her lips says it all. She knows she has this. Considering how she snooped around the other students potions, I doubt we’re going to get surprised.

“The best performing Alchemist for this little excursion is Doug!” The teacher declares, staring off a round of applause. Strange to think that clapping is a cultural thing here too, but hey, elves have hands and it makes more sense than smacking their asses in celebration or something.

I hear something snap beside me. Thresh’s mouth. Her sour expression is almost clear enough for Chip to make out the swear words crushed in her throat.

“Doug stayed near to town, causing little trouble for his protectors, and without stirring up trouble with beasts. The ingredients used were of low quality, but he used them as efficiently as was possible while making the best potions out of them that he could.”

The other students are stewing in their own frustrations as Thresh grinds her teeth to our side. Soon enough the alchemy teacher provides advice to his class, and it doesn’t take long for him to get to our arachne.

“Thresh. I can tell that you’ve put some serious effort into your potions, they’re better than your usual work even. That said, you chose to harvest and use ingredients more suitable to an alchemist more Skilled than you are. Now you didn’t completely ruin things, I’ll make sure that what you’ve harvested and crafted is given to more gifted alchemists to be used properly.

“It’s important to keep in mind your current abilities before touching an ingredient, or you’ll end up creating more waste.”

A low hiss escapes Vii at my side as she glares up at the alchemy teacher, who doesn’t seem to notice.

It may be partially because of the issues back home, but it’s difficult not to speak up and cuss him out for that evaluation. I’ll also admit that my more violent urges do offer other suggestions which I quickly bury.

“That…” Thresh whispers, the word rolling from her lips weakly as her eyes lose focus.

“Remember our deal.” I say. “We have your back.”

Her eyes light up again as she turns away from the teacher over at us. The others are giving their own support, Eshya pats her shoulder, Vii whispers curses at the teacher, and Adler gives her condolences while promising that things will be easier with us.

Thresh nods, a little relieved as she turns towards the teacher and the other students.

“It’s not going to get any better here.” She says. “It’s going to be the same next time. Again after that.”

“Why does it matter?” I ask, leaning closer to her. “If you’re working with us, then why the heck do you have to care about the rest of these idiots?”

“What are you up to?” She asks. “It’s more than just messing around. You didn’t even care about your own results. What are you planning?”

“You’ve already agreed to find out.” I say, smiling genuinely for the first time in days. “Just keep an open mind, and think about your future.”

She nods, anger still written plain on her face as she glares at the teacher who offers only a difficult smile of his own in return. The sort of awkward smile you might get from a store clerk when they’re dealing with a screaming customer.

“Be ready.” I say to Thresh. “We’re heading out as soon as we land. I need your help down there, none of the rest of these idiots can do what you can.”

“I’m ready.” Thresh whispers, twitching with either nerves or excitement as she finally turns from the teacher.

“Good.”

“It’s time to go home, and deal with a few pests. It’ll be interesting to see what you can make from their corpses…” I smile eagerly at the thought.

Recycling is good for the environment, no?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Skills & Stats

~Mana Form:

Current mana density: 1512 units

~Mana distribution:

Catagory Current Max. Defence 82% 82% Offense 0% 68% Mana Sense 0% 96% Recovery 0% 44% Gluttony 0% 34% Misc. 0% 44% Efficiency 82% 100%

~Favourited Skills:

-Chip Shredder

-Multi-mind

-Tag

-Mana surge movement

-Reactive defence

-Fire burst punch

-Annihilation magic

-Charged casting (Annihilation)

-Mana form flow fixer

-Branching magic

-Swimming